Written by Lindsay Melrose Monday, 24 January 2011 20:04

GunnerTalk Blog

By Lindsay Sheehan

So my best friend told me to join the twitter revolution. Easy for her to say - she hates social media sites as much as she adores the word 'mugcunt.' (Love you Miss Cameron). Anyway seeing as Facebook is the third person in my marriage I naturally resisted another reason to I-phone fiddle, but I knew it would be good for my other husband, Gunnertalk, so in I logged.
 
And one of the 3 unexpected presents I've gained is a mad insight into the life of an Arsenal football player.
 
For the lower-than-average-intelligence footballer, social networking holds many pitfalls. Ryan Babel fell afoul of the FA for re-posting this already widely distributed picture of Howard Webb in his Man United shirt.

 
Paul Konchesky's mum used facebook to respond to the Liverpool fan's chant of cockney scum at her son with
 
"To all you Liverpool scouse scum out there never mind the Cockney **** take a real look at your team stop living off the past the team are ****. If anyone made a mistake it’s the Cockney **** never should have left Fulham.”
 
Darren Bent agitating for a move (no - the last time) told Tottenham to do one whilst still under contract
 
"Seriously getting pissed off now. Why can't anything be simple? It's so frustrating hanging round doing jack shit. Do I wanna go Hull City NO. Do I wanna go stoke NO do I wanna go Sunderland YES so stop fucking around, [Daniel] Levy. Sunderland are not the problem in the slightest."
 
But despite this, footballers are on twitter and not by half measures, Ferdinand, Pique, Ronaldo, Lennon, Gilberto, Puyol, Pienaar, Anelka, Tevez and even Shawcross to name but a few can be followed. My phone is full of their every movement and thought.
 
Our team is well represented. You may expect the involvement of Henri Landbury, JET and Chesney. They are of the generation after all. But I can tell you I did a little bitty of wee when I found out the real Cesc, Nasri, Jack and Percy are to be found strolling through the Twitter world too.
 
I have to say it seems to be doing us no end of good. 
 
When Denilson's comments were rehashed with a snide slant they story hit the Sun like a bomb. Our captain and the world’s worst Brazilian quickly posted the below picture. While Jack said
 
“Team spirit to good to break here as @cesc4official and Denilson are showing.” 

 
Roughly translated as “Shut it media. We are fine look elsewhere for drama” (I'd start at City.)
 
The night before the West Ham match a FIFA 11 epic took place in the players’ hotel. Three teams, Theo and Jack, Nasri and Gibbs, Cesc and Carlos, battled it out until Theo and Jack emerged victorious. Their banter was hilarious and child like. In fact many Gooners, still grumpy after 2 poor cup performances, tweeted to Fabregas that our captain should pop the kids to bed as they all had a big day tomorrow. Seeing us placed in the role of humouring yet firm parent to boys collectively worth more than the GDP of a middle size country was heart warming. Such close interaction with football players is unheard of these days and to have a collective relationship away from the pitch is new. It certainly true that never has the gap between player and fan been so thin.CF4 tweeted back they were all tucked up at 22.30. Well what happened? It clicked and the 3-0 was a played like a training match. The players who had been having a chuckle safe, sound and together rather than out whoring JT stylie combined to turn on the dazzle. 

  
Twitter taught me that Chesney is a seriously funny motherfucker.  After we beat Chelsea he tweeted that we were particularly good down their left. He was asked by a Leeds fan how he enjoyed the Elland Road atmosphere - he replied he could hear our fans brilliantly and was amazed he didn't get any stick for his day glow pink shirt. When Manure’s Bulgarian striker missed an open goal he tweeted
 
"I guess that's why Berbatov played for Spurs.” 
and after he his dive against Liverpool Chezza commented
 
"Theo apologised yesterday. Wonder if Berbatov is going to apologise today?"
 
Actually, Manure seems to be a favourite topic of Chesney’s. Here he is again telling the truth
 
“How can you not get frustrated with decisions like that going ALWAYS Man Utds way?! Its a clear pen and sending off.” 
When questioned about the biased nature of his tweets he responded magnificently with this
 
“If someone doesn't want to know what I think about football then go and follow Katie Price. I write to true Arsenal supporters ”
Jack is one for constantly thanking the fans and never shirks from either apologising for below par performances or selling you Nike boots.  
The cheeky interaction between the team is brilliant.  Cesc asked where Vela got his hair cut. So he could NEVER go there. He rinsed RVP for his lack of modern technological knowhow 
 
"@Persie_Official is lost! From nothing, he now has twitter and blackberry in one week! Too much for him. Please give him a hand!”
and announced Songs radical facial bleach as a new signing.
 
Talking of groming, Jack said
 
"@Persie_Official has had a little haircut tweeps...going to start losing it soon haha."
 
Let’s be real - in recent seasons there have been some poor relationships in our dressing room. Adebayor telling Nicolas Bendtner during that awful defeat at S**** that he'd come on due to NB being shit. (Although fair point perhaps.) Gallas hated Kolo, Kolo hated Gallas, Nasri hated Gallas, Percy hated Adebayor and I think we've done a loop.
 
But the team right now? They are having blatant love-ins. When Percy wagered he’d get more followers than Jack he replied
 
"ack said rilliant.  Cesc askiinrilliant. weets he responded magnificently with this ""To be honest i can accept losing to an arsenal legend like @Persie_Official would'nt mind scoring goals like he can!!!"
 
Here’s Cesc on Le Boss
 
“Congratulations to Mr Arsene Wenger 4 being nominated Best Coach of the decade. What an achievement that is. Proud to be one of his players!”
 
And Nasri after winning the player of the month award (better than Bale)

 "@jack_wilshere thank you guys for the message without you i couldnt have won the award”
 
It’s not always necessary to like your colleagues. Cole and that cnut Sherringham were famously not friends. I remember Paddy and Freddie’s big bus bust up and it didn’t stop us but maybe these kids need to feel a bond. Maybe the fight comes for the friendship.  Hopefully the push can be fostered by the respect and warmth felt for the player next to them.
 
In terms of clicking, Arsenal are nearly there. We've been nearly there before. And before that. But this time it’s true, we are nearly there. Maybe this team spirit fostered via twitter is the final yet necessary ingredient. Apart from learning they have far too much time on their hands and can’t spell, it's a lovely insight into the team’s personality and dynamics without the filter of the press. We hear via their own mouths without (much) censorship or agenda. They can also schmooze us lot. Here’s our Captain after the Ipswich debacle
 
“Sorry about last night guys. Bad performance. I know you are all very dissapointed but it is up to us now to make it right. We owe you many!”

Nasri said after Leeds away
“Good game good atmosphere and fantastic support by our fans thank you so much guys now focus on wigan”

Enjoy it while you can though. As they cannot keep themselves out of trouble I'm sure the clubs will start keeping a stricter eye on their output. Henri Lansbury used to do the 'Ask Henners' show at night where fans tweeted in questions for him to answer. It got a bit fruity and next thing he was having a strop and talking about his tweets being 'misinterpreted.' Sounded like a bollocking via management to me.
 
As a ps there are many intelligent informed and hilarious Gooners tweeting every day from a wide variety of countries, cultures and creeds.   I know I've said it before but you really are a fabulous bunch. Yes you!